Tongue-supporting gear for draft animals



Feb. 16 1926. 1,573,755

R. C. WORKMAN TONGUE SUPPORTTNG GEAR FOR DRAFT ANIMALS Eiled May 22,1924 l2 ll I? l j X f f ,1

Patented Feb. 15, 1926.

ROBERT CHAPMAN \VGRKMAN, OF CAMDEN, SOUTH CARGLTQIIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 SHAND ENGINEERING AND SALES CQMPANY, OF OOLUlviBIA, SOUTH CAR-OLINA, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

TONGUE-SUPPGRTING GEAR FOB, DRAFT ANIIVIALS.

Application filed May 22, 192-4.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, ROBERT CHAPMAN TVORKMAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Camden, in the county of Kershaw and State of SouthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTongue-Supporting Gears for Draft Animals, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a tongue supporting gear, for draft animals,and is es pecially useful in connection with heavy vehicles orimplements travelling over rough surfaces.

With the usual tongue supporting means comprising simply chains or thelike, the draft animals are often subjected to great discomfort andsevere punishment, as a result of side thrusts and jerks incident to thelateral movement of the tongue or pole, when the vehicle is travellingover rough ground.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means forabsorbing or cushioning these shocks so as to protect the draft animalsfrom the disastrous efi'ects thereof. A further object is to providemeans for also cushioning the vertical movements of the end of thetongue so as to relieve the animals necks from unnecessary and excessiveirritation.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is hadto the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation ofmy improved tongue supporting gear;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof; and

Figure 3 is a side elevation on a smaller scale, showing my improvedgear as it appears whein in use.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved tongue supporting gearcomprises a breast yoke 1, which may be either of wood or metal, but isshown as consisting of a wooden bar. To the ends of this breast yoke aresecured clips or brackets 2, and

each of these brackets is suspended by means of links 3 and 4, from themiddle point of a Ushaped substantially rigid neck yoke The ends of eachof these neck yokes are arranged to lie at opposite sides of the animalsneck, and such ends are suspended by means of links 6 and elastictension devices, from lugs or rings 11, carried by the usual Serial No.715,173.

hames 12, which it around the draft collar 18. As shown, the elastictension devices referred to comprise a hanger 7, secured to one of thelinks 6, and having its upper ends bent over to constitute hooks 7. Arod or link 9 extends between the arms of the hanger 7, and is securedat its lower end to a suitable abutment, as for example, a disc or plate10. Interposed between the hooks 7 and the disc or plate 10, andsurrounding the hanger 7 and link 9, is a compression spring 8. It isobvious that a load applied to the yoke 5 will draw down upon thehangers 7, and serve to compress the springs S, such springs thusconstituting resilient means for supporting the load. Other forms ofelastic tension or resilient supporting means may be employed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

A tongue engaging ring 14 is provided, and is suspended below the breastyoke 1,

from the downwardly bent ends 2 of the clips or brackets 2. Thesuspending means comprises a pair of links 15, engaging the ring 14, apair of links 21 engaging the brackets 2, and elastic tension devicesinterposed between said links. Each of said elastic tension devices maybe similar to those above described, and comprises a hanger 16 havinghooked ends 17, between which and a disk 20, is interposed a compressionspring 18, the disc 20 being connected by a rod or link 19, with one ofthe links 21. Itwill thus -be seen that any lateral movement of thetongue supporting ring 14 is resisted and cushioned by one or the otherof such elastic tension devices.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that the tip 22 of thepole or tongue 23 is inserted in the ring 14, and is thus supported. Itwill be seen that not only arelat era-1 thrusts of the tongue cushionedand controlled by means of the springs 18, but the weight of the tongueis carried through the springs 8 and any sudden vertical movements arecushioned thereby. Furthermore, all parts of the improved supportingmeans are freely suspended. That is to say, the ring 14 is suspendedfrom the breast yoke 1, and the breast yoke 1 is suspended by links fromthe neck yokes 5, while the neck yokes are themselves freely suspendedfrom the hames. By virtue of this construction, any binding or clampingof the parts is prevented, and

all of the elements are free to move so as to adjust themselves to thestrains existing at any particular moment.

hat I'claim is:-

Tongue supporting gear comprising a breast yoke and a pair of bow-shapedneck yokes attached to the ends thereof at their middle, draft haineshaving lugs adjacent their upper portions, and elastic tension devicesconnecting the ends of said neck yokes Withsaid lug, whereby the saidneck yokes are resiliently suspended.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ROBERT CHAPMAN l VORKMAN;

